222 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

The moment the Gedo Statue devoured Kinkaku and Ginkaku, its final closed eye snapped open.

Instantly, the atmosphere within the cavern shifted. A terrifying, almost overwhelming aura of malice surged forth from the statue, an intent so vast and brutal it defied comprehension.

Everyone present felt their hair stand on end, a cold sweat forming as chills ran down their spines.

"ROAR!"

A deafening roar shattered the silence as the massive Gedo Statue raised its colossal hands to clutch its head, releasing a cry that shook the very earth. The sheer force of the soundwaves caused the entire cavern to tremble violently, dislodging massive chunks of rock that crashed to the ground.

"What terrifying power…" Orochimaru muttered, his face briefly twisting in discomfort. Even he, with his formidable strength, found the oppressive aura almost unbearable—and this was merely the beginning of the resurrection.

'Ah… If only I could dissect it piece by piece and study it in my lab,' Orochimaru mused, his serpentine tongue flicking out as a flash of greed flickered in his golden eyes.

"This power… it surpasses even that of the legendary Senju Hashirama!" Kakuzu's emerald-green eyes widened with shock, the usually unflappable mercenary visibly shaken.

Even Sasori, who typically displayed no emotion, found himself momentarily taken aback. His normally indifferent gaze betrayed a flicker of awe as he observed the Gedo Statue's transformation.

Nearby, Konan stood close to Nagato, a faint smile gracing her lips as she watched the scene unfold.

Peace was now within their grasp. All that remained was the completion of the Ten-Tails' resurrection, followed by Nagato becoming its jinchūriki. Once Nagato possessed the divine power of the Sage of Six Paths, nothing would stand in the way of their vision of peace.

From a shadowed corner, a pair of scarlet Sharingan eyes observed the unfolding events. Hikari's lips curled into a subtle smile, while beside her, Black Zetsu's expression brimmed with excitement.

Centuries of planning and patience had finally led to this moment. Even Black Zetsu, a master of manipulation and restraint, could not suppress a surge of exhilaration.

Amid the shaking cavern, Nagato addressed the Akatsuki members. "I'm counting on all of you."

Hearing his words, Konan, Kakuzu, Sasori, and Orochimaru nodded in unison, vanishing in a blur to take their designated positions at the cavern's four corners.

They swiftly formed hand seals and shouted in unison, "Four Red Yang Formation!"

A translucent, fiery-red barrier shot upward, encapsulating the awakening Ten-Tails within its confines. This precaution was to ensure that the Ten-Tails' revival wouldn't draw the attention of Konohagakure—or worse, Uchiha Akira's interference.

Nagato looked at the roaring Gedo Statue, his expression tinged with awe.

"What incredible power… and it's not even fully revived yet. Its potential seems limitless!"

"It's truly overwhelming," Hikari remarked, narrowing her eyes at the growing form of the Ten-Tails.

The Gedo Statue's roar eventually subsided. With the chakra of all nine tailed beasts gathered, the conditions for the Ten-Tails' revival were complete.

Moments later, the statue's form began to undergo a rapid transformation. Its body expanded uncontrollably, its size becoming almost incomprehensible. Protrusions from its back stretched and extended into colossal tails, resembling ancient dragons, while its hunched form grew into a terrifyingly grotesque silhouette.

Its once human-like mouth split open into a massive, grotesque maw, above which a crimson Rinne Sharingan opened, radiating malevolent energy as it surveyed those present.

"This is the Ten-Tails?" Konan murmured, her voice trembling slightly as she stared at the gargantuan creature.

Compared to the Ten-Tails, even the mightiest tailed beasts seemed insignificant—mere specks before its colossal form.

"What an overwhelming presence…" she whispered, involuntarily shivering as her eyes locked onto the creature's grotesque maw and crimson Rinne Sharingan.

"The Sage of Six Paths derived his power from this beast?" Orochimaru's gaze glimmered with a mix of curiosity and fervor. "How could such a monstrous entity even come into existence? Is it truly a native species of this planet?"

"This is the Ten-Tails…" Hikari's voice trailed off, her expression distant. The creature's revived form had far exceeded her expectations.

Nagato, standing atop the Ten-Tails' enormous head, exhaled with excitement.

"What fearsome power!"

With a fluid leap, Hikari joined Nagato atop the beast's head. From here, they could more precisely direct the Ten-Tails' evolution. Its current form, though formidable, had yet to reach the optimal state for a jinchūriki.

Suddenly, two thick tendrils emerged from the Ten-Tails, embedding themselves into Nagato's and Hikari's heads, connecting their chakras to its immense power.

Even without Rinnegan, Hikari's unique fusion of Senju DNA and Uchiha lineage granted her sufficient control over the Ten-Tails.

The ground trembled as the Ten-Tails raised a massive limb, taking its first step forward. The entire cavern, along with the Four Red Yang Formation, quaked violently.

Nagato frowned. "The Ten-Tails is far more difficult to control than anticipated."

Hikari smirked, crossing her arms. "I'd love to see what its Tailed Beast Bomb can do."

"Do you think it could wipe out an entire nation in one blast?" she asked, her gaze gleaming with excitement.

Nagato's expression grew stern as he nodded. "If it charges long enough, it's certainly possible."

Hikari raised an eyebrow. "I'm talking about a great nation, not some insignificant minor country."

Nagato sighed, shaking his head.

"Destroying a great nation entirely in one shot might be beyond its power. Besides…" He turned to Hikari, his tone firm. "That's not the path I intend to take."

"Tch, how boring," Hikari muttered, a hint of disappointment in her voice. "I was hoping to give Konoha a taste of its power with a fully charged blast."

Nagato's gaze hardened. "Konoha's people are part of the peace I envision. I won't allow their annihilation."

Hikari shrugged nonchalantly. "Sometimes, Nagato, you're far too rigid. It's no fun."

Ignoring her jab, Nagato focused on stabilizing the Ten-Tails, directing its power to its peak form.

Under their combined control, the Ten-Tails' shape began to shift once more.

First, it transformed into a slender, humanoid figure, then rapidly bulked up, muscles swelling to grotesque proportions. Finally, it assumed a seated posture, its hands clasped as if in prayer, with ten massive tails swaying ominously behind it.

The sheer magnitude of its chakra radiated outward, causing the Four Red Yang Formation to ripple under the strain.

The Ten-Tails had reached its ultimate state.